Dear NASET News,

Welcome toNASET'sWEEK in REVIEW. Here, we provide you with the latest publications fromNASETto read and or download, as well as some of the most interesting articles that have happened this week in the field of special education. We hope you enjoy this publication. Feel free to send us articles for this publication or let us know your thoughts about theWEEK in REVIEWatnews@naset.org.Have a great weekend.Sincerely,

NASETNews Team

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April 2013

How To Adapt Curriculum for Students with Special Needs

One of the most important things to keep in mind when working with student with special needs is that they can learn. In many cases, it is not the lack of understanding or knowledge that causes problems but rather the manner of presentation, response requirements, and level of presentation. The need to learn how to adapt material is crucial when working with this population. These adaptations offer them a better chance of success and task completion.

One of the most difficult decisions for teachers working with children with special needs is grading students. This process presents a dilemma for all educators. If we use traditional competitive grading systems then students who try, participate, finish assignments but because of their disability fail tests will receive a failing grade when compared to their peers. This type of approach may lead to frustration, loss of motivation, parent frustration, and a "why bother attitude" on the part of the child. On the other hand, grading students solely on attitude, effort, accountability, responsibility etc., despite failing grades, may mislead both parents and students into setting unrealistic goals.

Salend, (2001)describes a variety of student grading systems that you may want to consider when determining your student's grades.

Orientation and mobility services (O&M) became part of IDEA's list of related services with IDEA '97. They are defined at §300.34(c)(7) and even a brief read makes it clear that O&M services are intended for children who are blind or visually impaired, with the purpose of teaching them how to orient themselves in a range of environments (school, home, community) and to move safely within those environments.

Children's Learning Disabilities May Have Multiple Causes

Up to 10 percent of children -- two or three kids in every classroom -- are thought to have learning disabilities, and a new review finds these disabilities have complex causes and suggests possible approaches. Children frequently have more than one learning disability, the research showed. For example, 33 percent to 45 percent of children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) also have dyslexia and 11 percent also have dyscalculia. Dyslexia is a reading, writing and spelling disability while dyscalculia is a math learning disability. The study, published April 18 in the journal Science, outlines the underlying causes of learning disabilities and the best way to tailor individual teaching and learning for affected children. It also discusses how best to train teachers, school psychologists and doctors who deal with these children. To read more,click here

Did You Know That....

Also known as petit mal seizure, an absence seizure refers to a brief, sudden lapse of consciousness. It is a non-convulsive generalized seizure when a person may appear to be staring into space with or without jerking or twitching movements of the eye muscles.

Guideline Changes Have Asperger's Community on Edge

People with Asperger's syndrome -- mild autism with normal or sometimes superior verbal ability and intelligence -- are at a crossroads: Their diagnosis is about to disappear. In 1994, Asperger's was recognized as its own disorder in the fourth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-4). For some people, realizing that they fit into the Asperger's diagnosis was a "eureka" moment of sorts. In mid-May, however, the American Psychiatric Association (APA) will unveil the latest edition of the diagnostic manual. In the DSM-5, the Asperger's term will not exist -- and many people with Asperger's are upset. To read more,click here

Detecting Autism from Brain Activity

Neuroscientists from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and the University of Toronto have developed an efficient and reliable method of analyzing brain activity to detect autism in children. Their findings appear today in the online journal PLOS ONE. The researchers recorded and analyzed dynamic patterns of brain activity with magnetoencephalography (MEG) to determine the brain's functional connectivity -- that is, its communication from one region to another. MEG measures magnetic fields generated by electrical currents in neurons of the brain. To read more,click here

Honor Society for Special Education Teachers

Breast-Fed Kids May Have Low Iron Levels, Study Finds

Although breast-feeding is generally considered the best way to nourish an infant, new research suggests that in the long term it may lead to lower levels of iron. "What we found was that over a year of age, the longer the child is breast-fed, the greater the risk of iron deficiency," said the study's lead author, Dr. Jonathon Maguire, pediatrician and scientist at Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute at St. Michael's Hospital at the University of Toronto in Canada. The study, released online April 15 in the journal Pediatrics, did not, however, find a statistical relationship between the duration of breast-feeding and iron deficiency anemia. Anemia is a condition in which the body has too few red blood cells. To read more,click here

U.S. Infant Mortality Rates Finally Dropping Again: Report

After five years of leveling off, the U.S. infant mortality rate is finally on the decline again, a new government report shows. Infant mortality rates dropped 12 percent from 2005 to 2011, largely because of headway that has been made against four of the five leading causes of infant death, including birth defects, preterm birth and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). The rate went from 6.87 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2005 to 6.05 deaths per live births in 2011. Although the new data did not look at why these reductions are occurring, many factors are likely at play, said study author Dr. Marian MacDorman, a statistician at the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS). To read more,click here

Colic May Be Linked to Childhood Migraine, Study Says

Although colic has always been considered a gastrointestinal illness, new research suggests that migraines might be to blame. The study, published April 17 in the Journal of the American Medical Association, found the odds were nearly seven times higher that children with migraine were colicky babies than were not. "It is already known that migraine can show with intestinal pain in childhood," said study senior author Dr. Luigi Titomanlio, head of the pediatric migraine and neurovascular diseases clinic at APHP Hospital Robert Debre in Paris, France. That is termed abdominal migraine. "Our results suggest that infantile colic could represent a form of migraine with age-specific expression," Titomanlio said. To read more,click here

Children and Teens With Autism More Likely to Become Preoccupied With Video Games

Children and teens with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) use screen-based media, such as television and video games, more often than their typically developing peers and are more likely to develop problematic video game habits, a University of Missouri researcher found. "Many parents and clinicians have noticed that children with ASD are fascinated with technology, and the results of our recent studies certainly support this idea," said Micah Mazurek, an assistant professor of health psychology and a clinical child psychologist at MU. "We found that children with ASD spent much more time playing video games than typically developing children, and they are much more likely to develop problematic or addictive patterns of video game play." To read more,click here

Did You Know That....

Ability grouping refers to the clustering students according to past performance so teachers can instruct them at the same level.

Babies Born Even Slightly Early May Lag Behind: Study

Many women choose to have labor induced or to have an elective Cesarean delivery before the full term of their pregnancy is up, but a new study suggests their child's development may suffer if they are born even a little early. A term of 37 to 41 weeks is considered ''normal,'' but the new research finds birth at 39 to 41 weeks provides more developmental advantages compared to birth at 37 to 38 weeks. "If the pregnancy is going well, it would be better to avoid doing elective C-sections early in the full-term window," said study author Dr. Betsy Lozoff, a professor of pediatrics and communicable diseases at the University of Michigan. To read more,click here

NASET SponsorHOW TO TEACH CHILDREN TO THINK AND ACT FAIRLY

HOW TO TEACH CHILDREN TO THINK AND ACT FAIRLY, a recently published book, uses a time-honored classic story to point out certain behaviors that children need to know and understand. Teachers should find this book a valuable resource for class discussions on many unfair issues that can be devastating to children, such as bullying, rejection, mocking and other problem behaviors. For further information go towww.teachingchildrenaboutfairness.com

TRIVIA QUESTION OF THE WEEK

Guess the answer to this week's trivia question and we'll recognize you in next week's Week in Review.

According to new data from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly one in five high school age boys in the United States and 11 percent of school-age children overall have received a medical diagnosis ofAttention Deficit Disorder.

THIS WEEK'S TRIVIA QUESTION:

This animal was born in 1927 and originally named "Kiss". "Kiss"was later renamed "Buddy" by its owner Morris Frank. What is the significance of this animal?

All answers must be submitted no later than Monday, April 29, 2013 at 12:00 p.m.

Parents Who Veto Vaccinations Often Seek Like-Minded Opinions

Friends and family may be key in parents' decisions on whether to vaccinate their young children, a small study suggests. The study, of about 200 parents, found that those who had opted not to follow the standard vaccine schedule often sought advice from anti-vaccine friends and family. Experts said it's not certain that the advice actually steered parents in an anti-vaccine direction: Parents who were already prone to shunning vaccines may have turned to like-minded people for reinforcement. "It's the chicken-and-egg question," said researcher Emily Brunson, an assistant professor of anthropology at Texas State University, in San Marcos. "The answer is, we don't know which came first." To read more,click here

Lullabies Soothe Preemies, Parents Alike

Lullabies have been used to soothe babies since time immemorial. Now, scientists say that premature infants in particular can benefit from combining this tactic with other forms of music therapy, such as simulated womb sounds synchronized to preemies' vital signs. Studying 272 infants in 11 hospital neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), researchers from Beth Israel Medical Center in New York City found that live music matched to babies' breathing and heart rates enhanced feeding and sleeping patterns. Parent-selected lullabies also seemed to promote bonding between parents and babies, easing the stress of the chaotic NICU environment. To read more,click here

NASET MEMBER'S BENEFIT -

Board Certification in Special Education Available to NASET Members

Through an agreement with The American Academy of Special Education Professionals(AASEP), NASET members now have the opportunity to achieve AASEP Board Certification in Special Education - (B.C.S.E.) at a reduced fee. AASEP Board Certification in Special Education - (B.C.S.E.) is a voluntary choice on the part of the candidate. The candidate for Board Certification wishes to demonstrate a commitment to excellence to employers, peers, administrators, other professionals, and parents. From the standpoint of the Academy, board certification will demonstrate the highest professional competency in the area of special education. Board Certification in Special Educationestablishes a much needed standard for professionals, across disciplines, who work with exceptional children.

For more information on Board Certification in Special Education,click here

Girls With Disabilities Often Have Unique Menstrual Problems

Teenagers with learning and physical disabilities are more likely to have menstrual problems compared to the general populations, according to a new study. What's more, researchers said there is no "one-size fits all" solution when managing the symptoms, according to a report published April 19 in The Obstetrician & Gynecologist (TOG). Researchers explain that menstrual problems in girls with disabilities are often unique to the population and can cause significant disruption to their lives. Common problematic menstrual symptoms include restlessness, aggression, hyperactivity, increased agitation and self-mutilation. To read more,click here

Concrete objects -- such as toys, tiles and blocks -- that students can touch and move around, called manipulatives, have been used to teach basic math skills since the 1980s. Use of manipulatives is based on the long-held belief that young children's thinking is strictly concrete in nature, so concrete objects are assumed to help them learn math concepts. However, new research from the University of Notre Dame suggests that not all manipulatives are equal. The types of manipulatives may make a difference in how effectively a child learns basic counting and other basic math concepts. The study will be published in the May edition of Child Development. To read more,click here

NASET MEMBER'S BENEFIT -

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Gifted and Talented Scoring Error Affects Nearly 5,000 Kids

Gifted and talented examsfor some 4,735 students contained calculating errors by the company the Department of Education contracted to score the high-stakes test, school officials admitted Friday - the same day families' applications to G&T programs were due. Of the roughly 13 percent of test takers affected, nearly 2,700 of those who previously didn't qualify were now eligible for district gifted programs, and more than 2,000 who were told they qualified for district programs were now also eligible for the more selective five elite citywide programs, DOE officials said. To read more,click here

Did You Know That....

Accelerated learning refers to an educational process that allows students to progress through the curriculum at an increased pace.

White House Urged To Raise SSI Limits

A federal agency is calling on the president to raise the asset limit imposed on people with disabilities receiving Supplemental Security Income for the first time in decades. In a letter to President Barack Obama this week, the chair of the National Council on Disability, Jeff Rosen, said significant updates to the SSI program are needed. Currently, individuals receiving SSI benefits can have no more than $2,000 to their name at any given time, a limit that's been in place since 1989. The council is asking the president to increase the amount to $10,000 with allowances for the figure to continue to rise with inflation. Additionally, the agency wants to see adjustments made to the way that SSI benefits are impacted when an individual earns money from a job, for example. To read more,click here

Reporting on Disability Abuse Earns Pulitzer Nod

A series of investigative articles looking at the failures of a police force tasked with protecting people with developmental disabilities is being recognized as among journalism's best. Reporting from the online news site California Watch, which was founded by the nonprofit Center for Investigative Reporting, was named a finalist this week for the Pulitzer Prize for public service journalism. The award recognized a five-installment series titled "Broken Shield" published between February and November 2012 examining California's Office of Protective Services. Responsible for policing the state's institutions known as board-and-care centers, reporters found that the department's investigations of abuse were routinely fault-ridden. To read more,click here

NASET's Latest Job Listings

* Master Middle School Teachers $125,000 Salary

- Charter School : Join a team of master teachers at The Equity Project (TEP) Charter School, recently featured on the front page of the New York Times. TEP is a 480-student 5th through 8th grade middle school in the Washington Heights neighborhood of New York City. To learn more -Click here

* Assistant Professor, Childhood Education - The College of Mount Saint Vincent (Riverdale, New York) seeks an Assistant Professor of Teacher Education with a strong student-centered focus and an earned doctorate to start in Fall 2013. To learn more - Click here

* Assistant Professor, Special Education - The College of Mount Saint Vincent (Riverdale, New York) seeks an Assistant Professor of Special Education with a strong student-centered focus, an earned doctorate and a strong record of teaching experience in collegiate and K-12 school settings to start in Fall 2013. To learn more -Click here

* Video Feedback Reviewers - Tools for Teacher - We are seeking Video Feedback Reviewers with certification in bilingual education, math, science, English, special education or social studies. Reviewers will be TNTP employees based out of a home office anywhere in the United States (flexible location). To learn more -Click here

* MENTOR TEACHER - Tufts Educational Day Care Center

- Responsibilities include providing leadership and supervision to a teaching team in the planning and implementation of a dynamic, developmentally appropriate and inclusive program for preschool or kindergarten age children in collaboration with teaching assistants, families, therapists and consultants. Beginning the second year, all mentor teachers and teachers coordinate a center wide program, initiative, or service. To learn more - Click here